South Referee

As referees, all we can control is our own preparation. Ensure you are fit and mobile enough to move around the pitch and give yourself the best possible opportunity to make the correct decision. Keep up to date with the LOTG and listen to those who offer advice ⚽️🏟

In almost every other sport, home and away fans sit together and can enjoy the game. The tribal mentality, on and off the pitch in football is concerning. I’ve never quite understood why people act like this.

DOGSO?

@Graeme_EFC1878 @evertonfc @RefereeHalsey @HACKETTREF @EvertonAcademy Tough to take. Looks to be a wrong decision but you never really see the referees angle until after the decision has been given. Do you have the ref card?

This is the so called penalty that turned the game in City’s favour, when the tie was finely balanced at 0-0. Minutes later we had a player sent off for nothing - another referee who has stitched up @evertonfc - @RefereeHalsey @HACKETTREF @EvertonAcademy

@Footballtweet Where’s the source on this then?

🏆🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: FIFA have approved several rule changes that will come into effect at the 2026 World Cup: ✅ Substituted players will now have 10 seconds to leave the pitch. If they take longer, the incoming player will have to wait one minute before entering. ✅ Throw-ins must be taken within 5 seconds, otherwise the ball will be given to the opposing team. ✅ Players who receive medical treatment will have to leave the pitch and wait one minute before returning. ✅ VAR will now be able to intervene on second yellow cards and on corners if there is a clear refereeing error.

@zsivibet This is the first time I’ve seen this and I can’t make a comment without seeing it in real speed and not the same 2 seconds replayed over and over. I’d love to give you my thoughts

🥷🏻 Arsenal clearly robbed Leverkusen at the BayArena on Wednesday night in the Champions League. Referee Halil Umut Meler and the VAR room decided to award a penalty in the 89th minute, although Madueke clearly kicked the defender’s heel first.🚨 How can VAR still get decisions like this wrong? What is the solution!?🤷🏻‍♂️ #scandal #uefa #arsenal #meler #penalty #var #mistake #archivovar @ArchivoVAR @RefereeSouth @RateTheRef @FabrizioRomano

@J5aint @thelittleowl11 @AdrianDurham_ There’s literally nothing the referee can do because that’s the LOTG. They can’t just turn a blind eye. ‘Knocking down the door’ of IFAB is like working in McDonald’s drive thru and trying to get something changed and thinking going to McD HQ, they’ll listen to you

@thelittleowl11 @AdrianDurham_ @RefereeSouth It definitely is. We’d all much rather watch the attack play out. Refs hide behind “we don’t make the laws” but it doesn’t wash. Why aren’t they banging down IFABs door asking them to be changed if they dnt agree? They’re a stain on the game and have ruined it as a spectacle.

Darren Englands correct! It’s a great decision. It’s a reckless act and it’s a second caution. It’s not a clear goal scoring opportunity so he’s right not to play advantage. Neto making himself look like an absolute fool as he walks off.

@spurscc @footyinsider247 @HACKETTREF Anything to stay relevant. Must be very bored at home

@RefereeSouth @footyinsider247 @HACKETTREF It’s just so strange that he’s turned into such a negative, vindictive referee basher. I guess they must be paying decent money.

💥 "There's 𝙉𝙊 doubt..." - Ex-PGMOL chief @HACKETTREF left astonished after major Fulham-Southampton goal kick controversy in FA Cup clash.

@walkingego Happy to chat about this if you want to DM.

I understand that there is a shortage of officials in the game and that means that there isn’t the required ability levels all the time to officiate the level with competence that we would all like. That being said application of basic law should be flawless. Yesterday was embarrassing. Linesman’s Explanation; the player was offside when the shot went in (player who scored) but it hit one of your players then went to him so I didn’t flag it. I think sometimes officials think that players and management don’t know the laws of the game. Fair play to the actual Referee who came in afterwards to ask for the footage to use it as a teaching point. (An admission the linesman got it wrong) It hasn’t affected the result in this game but that doesn’t mean we should just accept it. This wasn’t an ambiguous law. This wasn’t human error or missing something which can happen. This was a complete failing in law. These officials are paid a lot of money by clubs and some of the attitudes from them are completely unacceptable and unprofessional. The moment a player/manager questions them it results in a card. I understand it’s a difficult job, I’ve done it myself but surely more can be done to improve the working relationships, educate officials on the basics and get some sort of value for money for clubs paying over £150 per game for a service! Shortages shouldn’t mean we have to just accept poor officiating in any other workspace it would lead to disciplinary action, demotions, retraining. They are not volunteers and clearly the clubs rating of these officials after games isn’t taken seriously as we see the same faces week in week out. The acceptance of ‘we know they aren’t good enough but we don’t have enough of them so it is what it is’ shouldn’t wash. It’s down to the FA who also take a lot of money from clubs each season to put a plan into place and action effective change! I suspect there will be some comeback on me personally for this for questioning integrity but i felt the need to raise it nonetheless!

I think this will divide opinion. If you blow for the free kick, the only option here is a red card for DOGSO. Timing is irrelevant. I can understand why you’d give the red card. Is that pull impactful? If it is, it’s a red card.

Why are so many people arguing this? This is an easy one compared to most!

@TUFC1899 If there wasn’t already a lot of eyes on step 2 football, this will bring a load more. Half the teams in the NLS are full-time/hybrid and, in all likeliness, majority will be in the next 2/3 years as step 2 grows in popularity.

𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘆 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗻. We are very grateful to Paul for his hard work, professionalism, and commitment during his time at the club. We thank Paul for his contribution, both on and off the pitch. Torquay United wish Paul every success in his future endeavours. Neil Warnock will take the team for Tuesday night's fixture with Farnborough and an update on interim arrangements will be communicated in due course. #tufc

@afc1903mad This is impressive 😂

@RefereeSouth defenders would have needed to be on motorbikes to get back

This one’s going to cause some debate… Direction ✔️ Distance ✔️ Control ✔️ Defenders… What do we think?

@J5aint Apologies! Too much doubt in there! Possibility of defenders covering is high

@RefereeSouth Doubting?

@J5aint Too much doubting there

@RefereeSouth Never a red card. Too many defenders with chance of getting back in. Add it to the list of refs ruining the game.

@Thevarietysquad Skill level can play a part. Although not specifically mentioned in the LOTG. Professional footballers vs kids football, you’d like to think it was considered.

@RefereeSouth For me, I don't think distance is there a sit is near the halfway line... but im guessing at the higher ends of football we gotta consider skill level?

@Yorkshire_Steve Definitely an element of doubt there isn’t there.

@RefereeSouth Nobody would have really complained about a yellow. Reckon the defender near the bottom of the screen was in with a decent shout of getting back.

@Yorkshire_Steve Anything I’ve missed? Happy to DM!

@RefereeSouth So a potential alternative decision would be free kick Liverpool (the advantage has been played and is over, just like blazing over) and a yellow card to the Liverpool defender for the initial foul. Thoughts welcome!

Yesterdays Liverpool v City incident is a rare one but a correct one. It’s very simple once broken down. 1) Szob prevents Haaland for scoring a goal, therefore DOGSO red card. 2) Haaland subsequently fouls Szob from clearing the ball.